Natl Opera returns with romantic comedy

By Lee Hyo-won

After showcasing local premieres of works that are rarely staged even in Europe, the Korea National Opera returns with a classic romantic comedy.

The troupe will restage its 2009 rendition of Donizetti’s “L’Elisir d’Amore” Thursday through Sunday at Seoul Arts Center, offering family audiences something upbeat and ticklishly funny but not without poignant, melodramatic moments. It will also offer zest and rhythm amid a stylish backdrop that surpasses the appeal of contemporary musicals.

The original opera is set in a provincial 18th-century Italian village, where the penniless Nemorino romances the beautiful landowner Adina. But our hero must compete against the arrogant Sergeant Belcore for Adina’s heart, and resorts to buying an “elisir d’amore” or love potion from the traveling salesman Dulcamara. As typical of rom-coms, the coldhearted beauty returns his affections more or less without the help of the potion.

In the Korean version, artistic director Lee So-young takes the story to a more abstract setting and time, to outer space where baseball-shaped planets orbit around a white “hangari” (Korean clay bowl) symbolizing the moon. Similar to how Koreans traditionally prayed before a water basin beneath the moonlit sky, Nemorino sings the heartbreaking aria “Una Furtiva lagrima” (A Furtive Tear) by the hangari, hoping Adina will love him back.

The 2009 premiere was a box office smash, selling out in Seoul and going on to tour cities including Ulsan and Busan.

Tenor Cho Jeong-ki, a critically acclaimed singer at the Cologne Opera House, made his Korean opera debut through the 2009 “L’Elisir d’Amore” and will return to star in the lead role. He will share the part of Nemorino with Na Seung-suh, while sopranos Park Mi-ja and Lee Hyun will alternate in the part of Adina. Charismatic baritone Samuel Yoon will play the funnyman Dulcamara.

Members of the Korea National Chorus will join the singers onstage, while Kim Joo-hyun will conduct the Korean Symphony Orchestra.

“L’Elisir d’Amore” will be staged at 7:30 p.m. at the Opera Theater from Thursday to Saturday, and at 5 p.m. on Sunday. Tickets cost from 10,000 to 150,000 won. For more information call (02) 580-1300.